Leicester City continued their 100 per cent record away from home with a convincing 4-1 win at Leeds United on Monday night to propel them up to second in the Premier League.
The Foxes came out firing and went ahead in the third minute after Jamie Vardy capitalised on a Robin Koch error before finding Harvey Barnes to tap into an empty net.
Eighteen minutes later, Youri Tielemans doubled their lead after he pounced on a rebound from a Vardy diving header. Tielemans exploited Leeds’ backline as the Whites were without pivot Kalvin Phillips. The Belgium midfielder made the most of the turnover and punished Leeds to extend Leicester’s lead.
Despite the Foxes’ dominant first-half display they started slowly after half-time – allowing Stuart Dallas to score from long-range. The Leeds United full-back received the ball from loanee Jack Harrison, before swinging in a deep cross which found its way in at the far post. It was an awkward one for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, as the Dane anticipated a touch before finding the ball in the back of his net.
With the second half cagey, in comparison to the first, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers opted to bring on James Maddison and new arrival Cengiz Under. Maddison combined with Under, moments after coming on, who then chipped the ball over to talisman Vardy who was on hand to tap home Leicester’s third of the evening.
With a weight off their shoulders, Leicester took greater control of the match and won a penalty in injury time which was won by Maddison after a VAR decision. Tielemans stepped up and duly dispatched the spot-kick to complete the rout.
Leicester boss Rodgers was delighted with his team’s performance: ‘We had the quality to play when we had the opportunity… I thought we were amazing,’ he said.
‘Luke Thomas coming in at 19 and Wesley Fofana, 19, in the backline, right across the team, it was a really, really good team performance.’
Rodgers expanded his praise for new recruit Wesley Fofana too: ‘First and foremost he wants to defend… one of the things you need to do in the Premier League is head the ball and he can jump as high as this stadium. He’s got a great leap, he’s aggressive, he wants to defend forward which I like, and he can pass the ball… it’s great to have a 19-year-old who has time to develop.
‘He’ll make mistakes along the way, but you seem him in the middle of the back three tonight – he was superb.’
Despite their injury woes, it was a really impressive display from the visitors as they recorded their joint best-ever start to a Premier League campaign after seven matches – matching their tally from 2000-01 (15 points). They will be hoping to continue that form on Sunday when they host Wolves next.
For Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa his side, who remain 12th with the defeat, will be hoping to bounce back at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
By Ben Haywood
